"What's all this?" the Prince asked of one who seemed of some authority in the company.
"We are going to bury Gobbo," replied the man.
"But he isn't dead yet," exclaimed Vance, quite horrified.
"True," the man returned, in a matter-of-fact tone, "but he does not care about living. I know, for he's hired me to think for him these ten years. Now I'm tired of it, and so I think it's best to bury him; and of course it's all the same as if he thought so himself."
"Well," said Vance, who was beginning to grow badly confused by the odd people he encountered, "if he doesn't mind I'm sure I don't know why I should. But perhaps before he is buried he can tell me where to find the Crushed Strawberry Wizard."
"He won't take the trouble to remember," answered the man, "and I'm sure I'll do no more thinking for him."
"Well," was the thought with which the unlucky Vance consoled himself, "it is something to have seen the laziest man on earth."